Use after free in Linux kernel pwm-fan hwmon driver timer
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel hwmon pwm-fan driver registers the RPM timer's shutdown action before its backing data is allocated. On driver detach, devres can free the tachometer arrays before the timer is stopped, and a timer callback can then read and write freed memory in sample_timer(). The flaw was reproduced with KASAN during sysfs unbind. The fix registers timer retirement after the timer's backing data and IRQ actions are installed, so the timer is retired before that data is released.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: hwmon: (pwm-fan) Stop RPM timer before freeing tach data sample_timer() rearms the RPM timer and accesses the devm-managed ctx->tachs and ctx->pulses_per_revolution arrays. The cleanup action which stops the timer is registered before those arrays are allocated. Since devres releases entries in reverse order, driver detach can free the arrays before pwm_fan_cleanup() shuts down the timer. A timer expiry in that window accesses the freed tach data. With a KASAN kernel, a test-only kprobe delayed entry to pwm_fan_cleanup() while normal sysfs unbind ran. Each of three runs reported three four-byte reads and two four-byte writes in sample_timer() after its backing devm allocations had been freed. The helper did not invoke the timer callback, cleanup actions or free functions. With the fix, three matching unbind runs completed without KASAN, BUG, WARNING, Oops or panic. Instrumentation confirmed that timer retirement completed before the first timer backing allocation was released. Split timer retirement from the power cleanup and register its devres action after the timer backing data and IRQ actions are installed. This preserves the early power rollback action while ensuring the timer is retired before its backing data is released. Use timer_shutdown_sync() because the callback can rearm itself.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 or 7.3. Red Hat has no fix plan available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98198
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-vr2q-55hv-76j4
- 2026-10-09 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-09 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-21 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@d073d306e587c1f35aaf9c07c42e54a3d5895d8f · CNA
- 2026-10-21 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@6f890d1fe8325ac8330473428b9a9d6526de1b32 +1 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 2 new references · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f890d1fe8325ac8330473428b9a9d6526de1b32
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7743183d8b0f6ba88738805c824a255baae674b9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d073d306e587c1f35aaf9c07c42e54a3d5895d8f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e824fdb14a187ce56697e803b02b1e86243a755
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a5ce3fe5335a24d0220958c6866830a6d5fa1cc0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b48339b0a577783e4590a69e4cd2f2760ce33154
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/26d5ff79768548efb1e604bb6e8697c101e06269
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98198 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98198 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vr2q-55hv-76j4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98198 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences